Back drape support for casket trucks



Feb. 17, 1942. H. A. SULLINS 2,273,501

BACK DRAPE SUPPORT FOR GASKET TRUCKS Filed April 5, 1941 I gmiwm Y/a fray/7.5a s

Patented Feb. 17, 1942 BACK DRAPE SUPPORT FOR CASKET TRUCKS Harvey A; Sullins, Gcwer, Mo.

Application April 5, 1941, Serial No. 387,092

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of undertaking and pertains particularly to a device for supporting aback drape for a casket.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a back drape or background support designed to be carried by a casket supporting truck and at one side of the casket whereby floral pieces or drapes may be supported atone side of the casket to provide a background therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be readily set up upon and removed from the posts of the casket truck and which will provide a substantial and unobtrusive framework upon which floral pieces or other objects may be placed, to provide the desired background.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description consitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the device embodying the present invention, showing the same mounted in position upon a casket truck.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l generally designates a standard church truck upon which a casket is placed to be transported within a church. Such trucks have posts 2, each terminating at its upper end in a knob 3.

The device embodying the present invention comprises a pair of flat bars 4, each of which has a circular knob receiving opening 5 and an elongated or oblong knob receiving slot 6, so that each bar may be disposed transversely of the top reversely' extending short horizontal portion 8, which is parallel with the main body portion of the bar and provides a bracket at the outer end of the bar for the support of the lower rod 9 of of the truck over the upper ends of a pair of transversely spaced posts 2 with the knob of one post fitted in the opening 5 of the bar and the knob of the other post engaging in the slot 6 thereof. Each bar 4 is of substantial length so that on end will project a substantial distance beyond a side of the truck and the said extended end of the bar has a down-turned portion 1 and a a standard, which is indicated generally by the numeral Hi. The body of the bar 4 above the inturned flange 8 thereof, is provided with a pair of openings II to receive the lower end of the rod 9 and the flange 8 is provided with similar openings I2 alined with the openings II in which the lower end of the inserted rod may engage whereby the rod will be rigidly held in vertical position.

A cover plate l3 of wood is provided for'each bar 4 over the portion thereof lying above the truck and this plate is provided with an opening I4 alining with the bar opening 5 and an oblong slot or opening I5 alining with the slot 6 of the bar, as shown in Fig. 4.

Each of the rods 9 is of tubular form, as shown in Fig. 2, and adjacent its lower end it has a collar 16 which limits its downward movement through the alined openings l I-|2 of the supporting bar. Adjacent the upper end, each rod has a thickened collar portion I! in which is threaded a thumb screw 18 for securing in vertically adjusted position the upper rod I9 which forms the upper half of the standard. The upper ends of the rods 9 are connected by an apertured brace bar 20, the apertures 2| of which adjacent the ends of the bar, are designed to receive the upper ends of the rods 9 so that the brace bar 20 rests upon the collars 11. Thus the intermediate portions of the standards are coupled together and securely braced.

Upon the upper end of each of the upper rods I9 is a tubular L-coupling 22, one end of which receives the top end of a rod I9, as shown in Fig. 2, while the other end is directed horizontally or at right angles to the supporting rod. Each of these ells has formed at the end of the horizontally directed portion the horizontal sleeve 23, and these sleeves have extended therethrough the tubular rail 24 which forms a connection between the upper ends of the standards, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each end of the rail 24 has coupled therewith the longitudinal extension 25 which may also be of tubular form and which carries in one end a coupling pin 26 which has sliding connection in the end of the rail 24, as shown in Fig. 3, and it is preferred that when this coupling pin 26 is inserted into an end of the rail 24, there be applied over the pin the washer 21 which serves as a collar between the joined or opposing ends of the rail and extension.

The outer ends of the rail extensions 25 may be finished off in any suitable decorative manner by the attachment thereto of a ball head or knob 28, as shown.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the device herein described provides a novel and. easily set up means for arranging floral pieces or for suspending suitable drapes at one side of or behind a casket when the same is in position upon the supporting church truck whereby a suitable background for the casket may be provided.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for casket truck having vertical wheel supported legs, comprising a vertically disposed frame, and a horizontal, means coupled with the frame adapted to lie across and have connection with the top ends of said legs whereby the frame will be supported from the truck, at one side of the truck.

2. A back drape support for a casket truck having vertical wheel supported legs, comprising a pair of elongated. members, means for connecting each member across and with the top ends of a pair of legs to extend laterally therefrom, and a frame structure supported vertically upon the outer ends of said members and including a top horizontal rail.

3. A back drape support, for a casket truck, comprising a pair of bar members adapted to assume a spaced parallel relation, means for coupling the bar members in said relation with the top of the truck whereby each of the bars will extend at one end a substantial distance beyond the side of the truck, and a vertical frame structure supported upon the extended ends of the bars and including a pair of. standards and a horizontal rail coupling and supported by the upper ends of the standards.

4. A back drape support, for a casket truck,

comprising a pair of bar members adapted to assume a spaced parallel relation, means for coupling the bar members in said relation with the top of the truck whereby each of the bars will extend at one end a substantial distance beyond the side of the truck, and a vertical frame structure supported upon the extended ends of the bars and including a pair of standards and a horizontal rail coupling and supported by the upper ends of the standards, each of said standards comprising an upper rod member slidably coupled with a lower rod member whereby vertical adjustment of the frame is facilitated.

5. A back drape support, for a casket truck, comprising a pair of bar members adapted to assume a spaced parallel relation, means for coupling the bar members in said relation with the top of the truck whereby each of the bars will extend at one end a substantial distance beyond the side of the truck, a vertical frame structure supported upon the extended ends of the bars and including a pair of standards and a horizontal rail coupling and supported by the upper ends of the standards, each of said standards comprising a tubular lower rod, an upper rod slidably extended into the upper end of a lower rod, means for securing the upper rod against movement in the lower rod, and said rail comprising a central tubular portion and removable longitudinal end extensions.

6. A back drape support for a casket truck having vertical wheel supported legs, comprising a pair of elongated bar members, means for connecting each member across and with the upper ends of a pair of legs to extend laterally from the truck, said means being constructed to provide for relatively shifting one leg of each pair with respect to the other and lengthwise of the adjacent member, and a frame supported vertically upon the outer ends of said members and including a top horizontal rail.

HARVEY A. SULLINS. 

